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We are so fortunate to have a fantastic Team at The Lab.   Here we are after a staff meeting in January, hamming it up!    We are off to a great start to the new year, offering Enrichment programming, Staff Development sessions with staff from our 9 school sites, 1×1 youth mentorships and small group experiences for our students.

THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to a successful fund drive this week for The Lab!  Thanks to 19 great donors, we raised $1005.00! Our goal is $1,000, to be matched by our Angel Donor.  We also received a digital camera, and 2 external hard drives to hold all of the great video footage and photos taken in the Tech Lab.  With these financial contributions, now can buy a few more art supplies and publish our annual youth poetry anthology in March.  Click Here to find our LAB store, where you can donate on-line, or purchase cool Lab gear.

We hope you will enjoy our updated and revived website!

We want to recognize Reid Piefer of Giant Squid Industries and REMAKERS for the donation of his time, energy, skills and creativity in meeting and working with Lab staff to improve the look and function of thelabspps.com.

Check out Reid’s new project over at REMAKERS, a site that profiles and promotes non-profits, small businesses and people making a difference! It’s really cool!

Thank you, Reid!

Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end, and from small beginnings come great things! Since 2000, The Lab has grown from an after school writing group at Ramsey Jr. High serving just 8 students, to an Arts and Wellness-based program serving 11 special education (EBD) programs in St. Paul Public Schools.  We now serve over 250 students, and over 100 educators in our district each year.

Now in its second year at Homecroft School, The Lab continues to grow and evolve.  The Lab has increased its commitment and services to strengthen EBD programs by providing ongoing staff development and support to teams, training and follow up on the Empowerment framework, and ongoing creative outlets for youth. Read more

Volunteer Spotlight

Eleanor Daly

Nickname: Grandma Daly or Hey, Mom!
Modality: Experiential Wellness / Sewing Group

What is your inspiration for volunteering at The Lab?
I always say, “Blame it on the Girl Scouts!” Their promise “to help other people at all times” has stuck with me for 70 years.

What is an experience or moment that has stuck out to you while volunteering at The Lab?
Recently a student came into the room, and apparently was having a bad day. I thought so, as she didn’t return my greeting or respond to several comments. However, by the end of the period we were engaged in a conversation about the approaching holiday. I felt that I had helped her improve her mood. Read more

This is the second episode of The Lab’s Youth Radio Show, “Meet the Students”, the first podcast featuring the two youth interns. Malcolm and Rickeisha talk to Glo and Kama about their experiences at The Lab and their plans for the future. Check it out!

I’ve been thinking a lot about inspiration lately.  How to find it, and then, how to use it in order to create the best fruitful outcomes at The Lab.  In other words, I’m searching for role models who inspire me to grow our work at The Lab.  In broader terms, I’m forever asking myself how we can change the world and education for the better?  This is my challenge. Read more

Hi, Kristen Mason here. I’m one of The Lab’s two AmeriCorps VISTA Members, alongside Tricia Michel. We’re both in our second years of service at The Lab. This year, my role solidified as the developer and maintainer of all things technological. Along with helping out in the day to day tech needs of our program, I also create our data collection/logging systems, maintain the website, and work on new graphic design projects to improve the look and feel of our space here at Homecroft and in our print materials. I put together inspirational posters for The Lab and the Empowerment curriculum that are used in the eleven secondary E/BD programs that The Lab serves. Read more

Here is the full length episode for The Lab’s new youth-hosted podcast project, featuring an interview with Lab founder and coordinator, Mary Tinucci. In this debut podcast, hosted by Glo Pesci (Lab guest artist and hip hop extraordinaire) and Kama J (Lab intern and spoken word poet), Tinucci visits with Glo and Kama about the Lab’s origins and development, as well as her vision for this new Radio Show’s aspect of service for students at The Lab.

We are excited to announce The Lab Youth Radio Show, a new, student-driven radio podcast that is available on The Lab’s website.  This show is being developed,  produced and co-hosted by two high school students.  They will be guided and supported by Lab intern, Kama Johnson & Lab mentor, Glo Martin. The LAB Youth Radio Show will be a forum for youth and their mentors to discuss topics, such as:

• Exploring career choices after high school
• Developing leadership skills for young adults
• Taking steps to prepare for college
• Getting involved in the community through volunteerism
• Positive things for teenagers to do for fun
• Interviews with local community leaders, mentors, performers and artists
• And Much More!

One of the most exciting aspects of this radio show is that it will provide an additional forum for youth who are involved at The Lab to showcase their talents and success stories with a wider audience.

Click this link to read the rest of the article: Read more

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